(Paris, France) Apparently, it's the latest trend. Muslim women are having their hymens stitched to become, technically, virgins again. Prompting the trend is a rise in religion among the five million Muslims in France.

This 30-minute outpatient procedure, called "hymenoplasty" and costing between 1,500 and 3,000 euros ($2,000-$4,000), is increasingly popular among young women of North African descent in France.

No exact figures exist to say how many such operations are done, but the woman's surgeon says he gets three to five queries and performs one to three hymenoplasties each week. Demand has been rising for the past three or four years.

It's reported that the women are subjected to enormous cultural and family pressure to be virgins when they marry. I'd like to know how many are virginating (virginizing?) themselves in preparation for the afterlife and joining their 71 sisters.

Frankly, $2,000 - $4,000 seems like an awful lot of money to put a wrapper back on a package.

(Lewisburg, West Virginia) A 25-year-old Rupert woman, Heather D. Hughart, was indicted last February on charges related to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl in 2002. On Friday of last week, Hughart pleaded guilty to counts of sexual assault and sexual abuse and admitted to engaging in oral sex with the girl.

Hughart sobbed as she answered "guilty" to Circuit Judge Jim Rowe's questions concerning counts one and two of the indictment. Hughart also admitted to drug abuse problems in court.

"If this case had gone to trial, I would have expected to prove the defendant engaged in and performed oral sex on (the victim) and she knew the victim's age," assistant prosecutor Steve Dolly told the court. "The child came to her residence and stayed with her and drank alcohol and became intoxicated."

Dolly also said Hughart, after initially denying the charges, confessed to police. Public defender Steve Paragamian told the court the plea was in the best interest of his client.

Hughart is free on $5,000 bond. Sentencing is set for June 25th. Hughart faces a possible five years in prison for sex assault and 90 days for sex abuse.

Check out this report on last week's Border Patrol union vote expressing no-confidence in its management, specifically, Chief David Aguilar. Nobody cares for the guy, nor his management, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) boss, Julie Myers.

I pay attention to the rumblings within ICE and the Border Patrol although I rarely post on the subject. However, it sure seems that ICE executive and management officials are either terminally incompetent or thrusting an obscene charade on the American public. ICE and Border Patrol agents bust their bottoms to do the right thing only to be countermanded and overruled and even prosecuted by the mucky-mucks.

Border Patrol agents, in particular, feel abandoned by management, isolated to fend for themselves, swinging in the wind. One week it's round up the illegals, the next week it's don't round them up. Some illegals are arrested and then just let go because there is no place to put them. Illegals who are successfully deported return within weeks to the same area where they were arrested. Morale is low and sinking. Resignations have ballooned and more are looking for ways to escape.

When Democrats say the voting public has overwhelmingly spoken about getting out of Iraq, they're wrong. It's crap like the Bush administration's handling of border issues that kept Republican voters at home in 2006. Keep it up, Mr. President, and we'll have a Democrat in the Oval Office.

Of course, Mr. President, there's always the option of getting rid of incompetent administrators and enforcing existing laws. America is purported to be a nation of laws, is it not?

It's all over the news media, so google your own link but I understand that George Tenet states in his new book that there was no serious debate within the Bush administration prior to deciding to go to war with Iraq.

Therefore, by the authority vested in George Tenet's opinion, if he wasn't invited, a debate didn't occur or, if one did occur, it wasn't serious.

Of course, I haven't read Tenet's book and he may cite that the "serious debate" clause in the Magna Carta, or something, was violated. After all, Dennis Kucinich wants to impeach the Vice President for violating the Declaration of Independence.

I think someone needs to test the drinking water supply in Washington.

Five Britons have been found guilty of plotting to carry out al Qaeda-inspired bomb attacks across Britain on targets ranging from a nightclub to a shopping mall.

The gang planned to use 600 kg (1,300 lb) of ammonium nitrate fertilizer to make explosives to be used in bombings in revenge for Britain's support the United States in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, prosecutors said.

Details of the case -- previously kept secret to ensure a fair trial -- reveal previously undisclosed ties between the five men, the suicide bombers who attacked London's transport network in 2005, and other al-Qaeda linked cells. (Full story)

Omar Khyam, Waheed Mahmood, Anthony Garcia, Jawad Akbar and Salahuddin Amin were convicted of conspiring with Canadian Mohammed Momin Khawaja to cause an explosion likely to endanger life.

Garcia and Khyam were found guilty of possessing an article for terrorism -- the fertilizer, and Khyam was also convicted of having aluminum powder -- an ingredient in explosives.

So, since these characters were cozy with the 7/7 bombers, MI5 had all the terrorists under surveillance in 2004, well before the July 2005 attack on London. Consequently, MI5 is being accused of incompetence. For those who don't know, the British MI5 is roughly equivalent to the American FBI.

A jury of seven men and five women deliberated for seven weeks before finding the five men, all British citizens, guilty.

The group had bought 600kg of ammonium nitrate from an agricultural merchants and kept it at a storage unit in Hanwell, west London.

This fertiliser was to be the key component in the massive bomb - similar to those used in other terrorism attacks around the world.

But unbeknown to the men, some of them were already on MI5's radar while, at the same time, staff at the storage unit tipped off police.

They replaced the ammonium nitrate with a harmless substance and kept the group under surveillance before swooping in a series of raids.

David Waters QC, prosecuting, said the bomb, or bombs, would have been used "at the very least to destroy a strategic plant within the United Kingdom, or more realistically to kill and injure citizens of the UK."

The Old Bailey heard the defendants had had at least two fellow conspirators.

One of them, an American called Mohammed Junaid Babar, admitted his role in the plot after being arrested by the FBI and became a vital prosecution witness.

(Montreal, Canada) According to the medical services director at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal, the deaths of six premature babies about three years ago have been attributed to bacteria in the plumbing system. Dr. Isabelle Amyot identified the bacteria as Pseudomonas aeruginosa found to fester in sinks with poor drainage.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is ubiquitous in soil and water and an opportunistic invader in humans. "The bacterium almost never infects uncompromised tissues, yet there is hardly any tissue that it cannot infect if the tissue defenses are compromised in some manner." And, of course, premature babies have undeveloped immune systems which cannot adequately fight the bacteria.

Hospital authorities have been accused of hiding the details of the infants' death, however, officials say they were just obeying the law regarding the release of information.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Accused Meth Teacher Accepts Plea Deal

(Grand Junction, Colorado) Since October 2005, former first-grade teacher at Lincoln-Orchard Mesa Elementary School, Tammie Lee Reed, has been arrested twice for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. Note that Tammie Lee Reed legally changed her name since her arrests to Tammie Liberty Lee.

In January, 42-year-old Lee entered pleas of not guilty in Mesa County Court to all charges filed against her.

This month, Tammie Liberty Lee agreed to a plea deal which results in probation and work release for two years while dismissing 11 felony counts, including drug possession, check fraud and tampering with evidence. In exchange, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of possession of methamphetamine and one count of check fraud. The plea agreement is apparently okey-dokey with Judge Thomas Deister.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 18th. In the meantime, Lee is free on bond.

Interestingly, Lee's story to date reads like an episode of the Cops television program with methamphetamine addiction being the lead actor and an elementary school teacher playing a strong supporting role. Given the irresistible lure of methamphetamine to addicts, it will be a challenge for Lee to not indulge while she's free.

(Morristown, New Jersey) A 45-year-old unlicensed psychologist at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Lisa Anne O'Neill Ryan, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Judge Salem Ahto to probation and forfeiture of her job for engaging in sex with a patient in her care.

Ryan also was ordered to complete 250 hours of community service, to pay a fine of $200 and to undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation. Ryan apparently had sex with the patient on and off hospital property in 2004 and 2005.

As an aside, having a "psychologist" undergo psycho-sexual evaluation is not the same as having a lifeguard undergo swimming classes. Uh -- or maybe not. Of course, since Lisa Anne O'Neill Ryan is not licensed as a psychologist, she may need some evaluation.

O'Neill Ryan declined Ahto's offer to speak in her own defense. The thin woman, with short spiky red hair and an assortment of earrings and rings, stood quietly as her attorney, Paul Selitto, spoke on her behalf.

Selitto said the criminal case has had a "tremendous mental and physical impact" on his client, who is married and has a 10-year-old son.

O'Neill Ryan was a $65-000-a-year "staff clinical psychologist," but she did not have a psychology license. An exemption in the law for federal, state and county government facilities allows unlicensed people to serve as clinical psychologists and counselors.

While the sentence does not bar her from trying at a future date to obtain such a license, Selitto said she has voluntarily agreed not to ever pursue a license.

It's strange that the law exempts government facilities from needing to employ licensed people. Logically, any experience dealing with the public, whether as a fast-food worker or a taxi driver or a stripper, would appear to qualify an individual for a clinical psychologist position.

One must wonder just how successful government mental hospitals are in curing diseased minds. At the same time, one might suggest that the cure rate would increase dramatically if the hospitals employed people with actual credentials. Of course, Lisa Anne O'Neill Ryan won't be one of them. The "unlicensed clinical psychologist" has promised that she won't even try to get a license.

(St. Louis, Missouri) A 60-year-old officeholder with a national charity organization, Sandra Batte, pleaded guilty in February to possession of child pornography and, on Friday, U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton sentenced her to 37 months in federal prison. According to U.S. Assistant District Attorney Hal Goldsmith, her position with the charity had no link to the crime.

Batte admitted her home computer had three images of a naked boy under 12, one showing him in a sex act with a nude adult male, the plea agreement says.

Authorities were alerted to Batte's involvement during investigation of a Texas lawyer named Stuart L. Manley who is serving 30 years for child porn.

She admitted discussing dominance and "daddy-daughter" fantasies and receiving child porn from him via e-mail. She met him in San Antonio, where they had "some sexual contact," and met again in Dallas, the documents show.

Goldsmith, the prosecutor, said that in the correspondence, Batte discussed having sex with Manley and an 11- or 12-year-old boy he was abusing. She knew he was abusing the boy, "and she did absolutely nothing to stop it," Goldsmith told the court.

Defense attorney Art Margulis said Batte was vulnerable to Manley because she battled cancer and was exhausted from fundraising. Weak argument, I'd say.

After being released from prison, Batte will have to register as a sex offender.

Andrist claims she met the boy at a graduation party in the summer of 2006 and he told her he didn't have a place to stay so she let him move in with her. Contrary to what the boy contends, Andrist denies having sex with him. She said he told her he was 23, not 15.

Andrist has been issued a summons to appear in Olmsted District Court on May 31.

Police were alerted by a call that someone was seen smoking drugs in a car with children as passengers. Police stopped the car and found Wright in possession of a crack pipe and small bag of suspected cocaine. Wright had her 3-year-old daughter and 4-year-old niece in the car with her.

In addition to three outstanding bench warrants, Wright faces charges of possession of cocaine, possession of drugs in the presence of children and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wright also faces termination from her position with the school system.

(Bellevue, Kentucky) A 31-year-old social studies teacher at Bellevue High School, Melissa Melugin, was suspended Wednesday as police and school officials investigate whether she exchanged sexually explicit messages with a male student.

According to Bellevue Police Chief Bill Cole, the allegations largely center around one 12th-grade student and Melugin.

"The one student's name that keeps coming up is 18, so even if there was (sexual contact with him), there may not be any violation of the statutes," Cole said.

"But, without a doubt there was inappropriate communication between the teacher and at least one student. Some was sexual in nature, while some of the other communication was very dark, with references to suicide and other dark things . . . that parents certainly wouldn't want taking place."

Bellevue High School Principal Mike Wills acted immediately by sending out a letter of explanation to parents of Thursday.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Philippines Honor Slain Peace Corps Volunteer

Updating a previous report, the suspecteded killer of murdered Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell has surrendered, Campbell's remains have been cremated and flown back to the U.S., and Campbell is being decorated by the Philippine government.

The House of Representatives will honor martyred US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell with the Congressional Medal of Achievement, its highest decoration, in recognition of her invaluable services and personal sacrifices for the Filipino people, especially the poor.

Speaker Jose de Venecia initiated the tribute to Campbell and said the Award for the well-loved volunteer teacher cum social worker was "accepted with gratitude" by the US government and the US Peace Corps.

De Venecia said the Award -- the highest decoration from the House -- will be presented in June to the US Peace Corps, represented by its director, Ronald Tschetter in Washington, and a representative of Campbell's family, in ceremonies expected to be graced by the top Philippine and American officials and leaders of civil society in Manila.

Honoring Julia Campbell with a Philippine Congressional citation is significant. It indicates that not only was Campbell well-liked and effective in her capacity as a Peace Corps volunteer, but also that the Filipino government wants to make sure that her murder doesn't aggravate relations with the Peace Corps nor the United States.

Understandably, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Peace Corps are concerned about the adequacy of existing security measures. Almost 140 Peace Corps volunteers are currently in the Philippines and their safety requirements are being reviewed. Note that the PNP has not completed its investigation into Campbell's murder. There continue to be unanswered questions.

To conclude:

The Congressional Medal of Achievement citation honored Campbell for having "brought light and joy into the lives" of many Filipinos.

"She epitomized the ideals of the Peace Corps and of the American people," the citation read.

For the light, the joy and the ideals, Julia Campbell will be remembered.

The family members of Border Patrol agents Ramos and Compean, and bloggers, participating for the first time in "Hold Their Feet to The Fire" have scored a legislative success.

On Monday April 23rd, three members of the agent's families, visited the office of Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA). The family members were mistreated by Nunes' staff member, Andrew House to the point of tears. When they returned to the Phoenix Park Hotel, which is the home of Radio and Bloggers Row and "Hold Their Feet to The Fire", blogger Dan Amato interviewed them about their encounter and quickly posted to the web.

Bloggers and online activists from across the country immediately distributed this information and the phone lines in Nunes' office rang off the hook, as angry Americans rebuked the actions of his staff. This led to Congressman Nunes scheduling a meeting to apologize.

"When we heard that they wanted a new meeting, I contacted their office and they were very receptive and they rolled out the red carpet for us," said Rita Bonilla of the organization "You Don't Speak For Me."

When we arrived for the new meeting, Nunes' staff member, Andrew House apologized four times and informed us that Congressman Nunes would sign HR 563, which provides a congressional pardon to free agents Ramos and Compean. This makes Congressman Nunes the first member of the Hispanic Caucus to sign this bill. Mr. House then stated that Congressman Nunes would probably speak with other members of the Hispanic Caucus about signing this bill.

Blogger Dan Amato quickly interviewed Raymond Herrera, Ramos' Aunt Gloria Olson and Ramos' father Ignacio and had the report on the web within thirty minutes, at which point bloggers across the country picked up the story, which resulted in many angry calls to Nunes' office.

"I was thrilled upon hearing about the signing of the bill, and I was glad to have helped," said Dan Amato of DiggersRealm.com.

"This is the 'New Media' in action," said William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration PAC. "The rapid and massive feedback to Nunes office is an example of what the fusion of the internet and talk radio can do."

Monica Ramos who was not present at either meeting was thrilled that Congressman Nunes will sign the bill and truly appreciative of the support she has received. ###

Digger met with the Ramos family and "they are thrilled."

Kudos need to be extended to Digger for his efforts. He has devoted his time and resources to become a leader in the fight against illegal aliens, lax immigration law enforcement and porous border security. Those of us who wish we could do more should thank him.

Readers may recall from back in 2005 the announcement of a campaign to send $100 laptop computers to deprived children in developing countries around the world. The machines would be designed to have low electricity consumption, hand-generated power supply, built-in wireless networking and a screen for indoor and outdoor use.

Well, considerable progress on the initiative has been achieved with seven nations committing to purchase the boxes -- Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Nigeria and Libya -- and two nations inquiring about purchase, Peru and Russia.

(Augusta, Georgia) A 19-year-old home intruder, Justin "Brent" Haynie, is hospitalized from being shot when he broke into a neighbor's house. About 3:30 AM yesterday, 56-year-old Theresa Wachowiak was startled by the presence of Haynie.

"She was initially, but she's a strong lady," said Sgt. Calvin Chew of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt. Chew says what she did next may have saved her life: "She had a gun in her nightstand, and she was able to retrieve the gun during the assault and ended up shooting the suspect."

Plugged Haynie in the chest, she did. He left, trailing blood, getting only as far as another neighbor's picnic table.

Haynie is recovering in the hospital, lucky to be alive. He has been arrested and faces charges of burglary, aggravated assault, kidnapping and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.

(Pearland, Texas) A 20-year-old illegal alien from El Salvador, Isaias Larios, has been arrested for alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl.

"There was a young girl washing her hands because she had finished using the restroom," Capt. Jon Matherne said.

"He grabbed her, took her out back, made her climb a fence and sexually assaulted her."

And remember, we're talking of an attack on an 11-year-old girl and Larios has no business even being in the U.S.

Court records show that Larios has a lengthy criminal history in the Dallas area. Larios was on probation for a felony conviction but was not supervised because his case was not properly transferred to Brazoria County.

An immigration hold has also been placed on Larios because he is in the country illegally, police said.

Plus, Larios is a convicted felon who apparently wasn't deported. He must have qualified for sanctuary status or something. Not only that, but Larios is only 20 years old with a whole adult life ahead of him to collect entries on his rap sheet.

Currently, Larios is in custody with bond set at $105,000. If he posts bond, presumably he'll be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There's no guarantee, however, that he'll remain in custody since he may qualify for the ICE catch-and-release program or the administrative glitch exclusion. Nevertheless, after all is said and done, he'll likely be deported and have to incur the unreimbursable expense of traveling back to Texas from El Salvador to continue his criminal career.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Mom Arrested for Cruelty and Battery

(Henry County, Georgia) A 43-year-old mother of four boys, Sandra Lewis, was arrested Wednesday by Henry County Police for cruelty toward her children. She allegedly burned two of her boys with a cooking pot.

Lewis has been charged with two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree and two counts of aggravated battery.

According to police spokesman Lt. Jason Bolton, authorities began investigating Lewis, of 433 Trinity Trail, on April 20 after one of the children’s teachers noticed a serious burn on the child’s wrist. The teacher took the boy to the school nurse, and the boy told school officials Lewis had burned him.

Bolton said the child told police Lewis burned him on April 14. Police, and workers with the Department of Family and Children Services examined the boys and found they had multiple second- and third-degree burns "all over their bodies," Bolton said.

Two of her boys were adopted and they were the ones burned. All four boys have been placed with social services.

(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) A 20-year-old illegal alien from Honduras, Jose Roberto Castro-Gomez, pleaded guilty last week to two felonies related to a November 2006 car crash that killed his passenger.

Police say that early on the morning of Nov. 30, Castro-Gomez drove off U.S. 33, west of Harrisonburg and crashed into a tree. Gualberto Patricio Garcia, 21, of Harrisonburg, died from injuries sustained in the wreck.

Castro-Gomez was sentenced to one year in prison for involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. He will also face a deportation hearing.

No information was provided regarding the criminal history, if any, of Castro-Gomez. Nonetheless, he'll spend a year in prison, probably be deported to Honduras and then likely return to Pennsylvania.

(Fond du Lac, Wisconsin) A 17-year-old boy, Craig A. Walgenbach, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child for alleged sex with a 15-year-old girl. The girl said two episodes occurred, in February and in March.

If convicted, he faces a possible 80 years in prison. A court appearance is scheduled for May 11th.

(Baltimore, Maryland) A 29-year-old Reisterstown woman, Tiffany Gwen Weaver, pleaded guilty yesterday in Baltimore Circuit Court to identity theft for using false ID to enter prison and have sex with her prisoner boyfriend.

Prosecutors said that on Nov. 13 Weaver used a falsified Maryland State Bar Association identification badge to gain entry to the Maryland Reception Diagnostic and Classification Center in downtown Baltimore.

She claimed to be the attorney of inmate Jason Beau Moody, a man who had been sentenced in October to 30 years in prison for convictions of manslaughter and weapons violations.

In July 2003, Moody shot to death his girlfriend's ex-husband as she and her 7-year-old son looked on.

Once inside the prison and alone with her boyfriend, a prison employee spotted "Moody behind Weaver, who had her skirt up." However, according to Weaver's attorney, Mr. Bates, "There was no thrusting whatsoever."

Since Weaver has never been in trouble before and there was no thrusting, Mr. Bates plans to urge the court to impose probation when she is sentenced in June. Weaver faces a possible six months in jail.

Consequently, if the court is receptive to Mr. Bates' urges, Weaver will get off -- again.

(Chattanooga, Tennessee) A 25-year-old teacher at Kids 'R' Kids daycare center, Marquita Jett, was arrested while working as a stripper at the Club Coffee, an illegal strip club. Jett, along with several others, faces drug charges.

In addition to drugs, counterfeit money and guns were confiscated.

A convicted felon, Edward "Ace" Williams III, operated the establishment without an adult entertainment or liquor license. He was charged with liquor violations and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. One stripper working for the club was a 15-year-old runaway girl from Florida.

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) I suggest that simple logic supports the reported conclusions of this study.

A doctor has warned against the harmful effects of oud, which can cause cancer.

Dr Sayed Oraby, a consultant pulmonologist at a local hospital who agreed with the findings of a study conducted by the National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, said that the study has particular relevance to Saudi Arabia due to the common habit of using 'bakhour' (incense) to fill households with the rustic aroma of oud, a type of oily wood, the burning of which increases the particulate matter of the air, creating indoor air pollution that can be particularly harmful to young children and the elderly.

The Cheng Kung study said that burning incense considerably increases the risk of people contracting respiratory problems, even lung cancer.

"The smoke that comes out of burning incense is similar to vehicular exhaust, which is a mixture of chemicals, such as carbon monoxide. It provokes the bronchi (airways) in the lungs, especially in people who suffer from asthma," Oraby said.

He stressed that the danger increases with the long-term exposure to incense smoke.

Doctors recommend that incense be burned outdoors or in large interior spaces where the harmful smoke can disperse. Presumably, the people most affected are those who regularly use incense in religious rituals. To mimimize risk, devotees may want to light up fewer incense sticks.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Man with Concealed-Carry Permit Kills Robber

It's always sad when someone has to die but not so much when it's the bad guy. This report is from yesterday.

CLEVELAND -- A man who has a permit to carry a concealed gun shot and killed one of two teenage robbery suspects he encountered on his front porch, police said. City prosecutors decided yesterday that the 25-year-old Cleveland man was justified and would not be charged in the shooting Saturday night of 15-year-old Arthur Buford, a freshman at John F. Kennedy High School.

Buford and another teen approached the man on his porch and one of the youths pulled a gun, prompting the resident to pull his gun and shoot Buford several times in the chest, police said.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Muslim cabdrivers at Minnesota's biggest airport will face new penalties, including a two-year revocation of their taxi permits, if they refuse to give rides to travelers carrying liquor or accompanied by dogs, the board overseeing operations ruled Monday.

The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which was responding to complaints about the liquor issue, voted unanimously to impose the penalties, which take effect in May.

First offense will be a 30-day suspension. After that, a refused fare will result in a two-year taxi license revocation.

If I were in charge, the taxi company would also face penalties. After all, they are expected to provide a service and the airport authorities have a right to demand a professional and respectful operation.

The stunt the Muslim cabbies tried reminds me of the "White Only" lunch counters back in the 1950s. It's blatantly arrogant discrimination against people simply because they are different. Even so, nobody should be surprised since the Muslim drivers' behavior is fairly consistent with the level of tolerance and diversity we usually see from the religion of peace.

Here's some news from Bentonville that will probably upset the anti-capitalists among us.

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart announced today that it is planning to open as many as 400 health clinics in its stores over the next two to three years. The retail giant says that if demand remains high, it could open as many as two-thousand of the clinics within seven years.

The company says it will contract with local hospitals and other health organizations to get the clinics up and running.

I'm real curious as to how the health clinics will work. Obviously, no one is going to drop by Wal-Mart for a kidney transplant, at least not until the system is up and running, yet I imagine that all sorts of common boo-boos and sniffles and sprains can be handled swiftly and inexpensively.

Greek police arrested 11 Iraqi immigrants on Wednesday after receiving information of a possible al-Qaeda terrorist attack against the United States Embassy in Athens.

Officials conducted searches in various homes around the embassy late on Tuesday and blocked the streets around the diplomatic mission on Wednesday morning after receiving information from an Iraqi national of a possible plan to attack the embassy.

The suspects were taken to police headquarters for questioning. Reportedly, the searches conducted of the various homes found explosives. Security in central Athens has been heightened.

Claiming responsibility afterward was the radical-left Revolutionary Struggle. Readers may recall that this is the same group that fired a rocket at the embassy last January from across the street and it landed in a toilet on the third floor. At the time, the Revolutionary Struggle produced more noise than substance. Even so, the Greek and U.S. governments have offered a combined $2 million reward for information on the group.

From another source, only six Iraqis reportedly were arrested after Greek police received a tip from an Iraqi national of an imminent attack.

(Livermore, California) A 24-year-old 8th-grade teacher at Our Saviors Lutheran School, Rebecca Rogers, was arrested last week for allegedly engaging in inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature with one of her male students.

Livermore Police were alerted after the parents of the boy found instant messages of a sexual nature. According to Lt. Scott Trudeau, police are in the process of examining Rogers's computer and, so far, among an extensive number of messages sent to the boy, several were inappropriate and sexual.

Rogers was booked into the Santa Rita Jail and later released on bail. A tentative appearance in Alameda County Superior Court has been scheduled for Monday.

(Ironton, Ohio) A 35-year-old teacher at Rock Hill Middle School, Melissa Bare, was indicted Monday by a Lawrence County grand jury on two counts of sexual battery for engaging in sex with a 16-year-old male student. On Tuesday, Bare pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Yesterday, Bare posted $50,000 bond and was released from custody. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 16th.

Bare was suspended with pay from her teaching position in February when an investigation into alleged misconduct was launched.

[Update 05/04/07]

Melissa Bare pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual battery. Judge Charles Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash or $75,000 property.

(Abbeville, South Carolina) In January 2006, 26-year-old William "Billy" Edward Ronca was arrested for raping his 9-year-old stepdaughter. Ronca was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and locked up in the Abbeville County Jail on $250,000 bail.

In April 2006, the girl, at 10 years old, gave birth by Caesarean section. A DNA test confirmed that Ronca is the father. The child was put up for adoption while the girl's mother filed for divorce from Ronca. Understandably, local interest in the case has been intense.

In the latest development in the case, William Ronca pleaded guilty yesterday in the Abbeville County Courthouse to first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Eighth Judicial Circuit Deputy Solicitor John Anthony told the judge that the 3rd-grader was regularly raped by Ronca for about two years. Following the plea, 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Gary Hill sentenced Ronca to 25 years in prison.

A visibly shaken Brian Jones -- the father of the young girl -- stepped forward to address the court about the events that had befallen his daughter.

"There are no words to describe the devastation that has been brought upon my daughter and our family," Jones said, often stopping for brief moments to gather his emotions. "I know that what (Ronca) did to her will forever haunt her for the rest of her life."

"Every time she changes her clothes or gets into the shower, she will see the stretch marks and see the scar. She'll probably never recover from what happened."

Both the victim's grandmothers, Barbara Jones and Bonnie Moody, asked the court for justice. Grandmother Jones talked of "a scar that will never go away." In a pleading voice, grandmother Moody said, "She has been stripped of her childhood and stripped of her innocence. Please remember that you are her voice."

Ronca spoke and asked for forgiveness. His short statement ended with a request "that my God and the court have mercy on me." Ronca's mother, Jeanne Lezotte, also asked for the court to show mercy.

In conclusion, William Ronca got 25 years in state prison of which he must complete 85 percent prior to being eligible for parole. Doing the math, that would be 21 years and three months from today. On some day in July 2028, Ronca may have his initial parole hearing. Of course, first he'll have to survive the big house for more than two decades as a convicted child molester. Easy to say, much harder to do.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

McCandless Deals for No Jail in Sex Case

(Fort Collins, Colorado) In November 2006, former teacher and the principal's wife at Brighton Charter High School, Carrie McCandless, was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Ultimately, McCandless was charged with sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

After considerable legal machinations, a plea deal has been reached between McCandless and the prosecutors.(Hat tip: Don Morgenstern)

As part of a plea agreement reached with Larimer County prosecutors, Carrie McCandless, 30, pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful sexual contact – a misdemeanor charge and a reduction from the original felony charge of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust as well as felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and tampering with physical evidence.

The latter charge stemmed from an alleged phone call McCandless made to the victim in the case following a hearing on the other charges. McCandless, through her lawyer, previously denied she contacted the boy.

Per acceptance of the agreement by Larimer County Judge James Hiatt who ordered a pre-sentence investigative report be completed prior to sentencing, McCandless will receive a four years deferred sentence and, as a convicted sex offender, will have intensive supervised probation. She also will be required to register as a sex offender but only for 10 years because the sex charge was a misdemeanor. McCandless is not expected to serve any jail time.

And if she complies with all the stipulations specified by the court, the felony charges against her will be dropped. No jail and no felonies. Helluva deal.

Actual sentencing is scheduled for June 8th. In the meantime, McCandless is free on bail.

(Titusville, Florida) A 32-year-old teacher at Jackson Middle School, Janet Lea Hughes, was arrested yesterday after being caught by police with a partially undressed 16-year-old male student in a van at the First Presbyterian Church parking lot in Titusville.

When interviewed, both Hughes and the boy indicated to police that they had engaged in sexual activity on another occasion.

Hughes was booked on one count of unlawful sexual acts with a minor and one count of attempted unlawful sexual acts with a minor. As of this afternoon, Hughes was in custody with bond set at $35,000.

(London, Ohio) In May 2006, a married, special education teacher with Jonathan Alder School District, Angela Angus-Koppes, was charged with two counts of sexual battery for having a sexual relationship while tutoring a teenage developmentally-disabled boy. Authorities were alerted by the boy's mother after Koppes told her she was in love with her son.

After months of legal wrangling, an agreement has been reached between the prosecution and defense, resulting in Koppes pleading guilty to reduced charges of attempt to commit sexual battery.

Judge Robert D. Nichols then sentenced 38-year-old Koppes to six months in jail on each of two counts, to be served concurrently. Also, Koppes was ordered to register as a sex offender for a ten-year period.

Interestingly, Koppes didn't speak during yesterday's proceedings but her lawyer explained that her behavior was influenced by multiple sclerosis and bipolar disorder.

(La Verne, California) In April 2006, a 47-year-old special education teacher at Allen Avenue Elementary School, Debra Lynn Pence, was convicted of molesting a 15-year-old boy who was her former student. Pence was sentenced to probation. No surprise there.

Well, it seems that Pence's name has popped up in a news story regarding the 15-year-old boy, now 17, that she molested. Matthew Wanamaker has been somewhat incorrigible since Pence was sentenced, according to his parents. He has been implicated in threats of violence against Bonita High School where he attends and, last week while the nation mourned the deaths at Virginia Tech, he was arrested for the alleged burglary of his parents' home in which a shotgun, a rifle, and three handguns were stolen.

Matthew Wanamaker's parents immediately notified officials at Bonita High School which was subsequently closed.

Arrested with Wanamaker were three accomplices, Kimberly Valazza, 44, Shane Saucedo, 24, and Kent Bonilla, 23. All were booked and released on bond.

Now, I refuse to contend that Matthew Wanamaker's problems have anything to do with having been molested by 47-year-old Debra Lynn Pence. It could very well be coincidental that he became an angry, thieving criminal a troubled youth about the same time Pence was convicted. However, if someone else asserts that the molestation and the criminal behavior are linked, I won't dispute it.

(London, England) Full of diners, the Zizzi restaurant turned chaotic when a 35-year-old Pole burst in, grabbed a knife and cut off his willy.

The 200-seater restaurant on The Strand in central London was packed with runners and spectators from Sunday's Marathon.

Sales rep Stuart McMahon, who was eating supper with his girlfriend, said: "This guy came running in then charged into the kitchen, got a massive knife and started waving it about.

"Everyone was screaming and running out as he jumped on a table, dropped his trousers and popped his penis out. Then he cut it off. I couldn't believe it.

"The staff were really upset and there was blood everywhere."

Police sped to the scene and restrained and handcuffed the man. Several diners were treated for shock by ambulance crews.

Cops grabbed the Pole's severed member and put it on ice. Both the Pole and his pole were then rushed to the hospital where doctors worked to stop his bleeding and reattach his handiwork. Prognosis is currently unknown.

Surgeons said that the operation was the first of its kind in the UK. Cops said the Pole is "clearly not a well boy."

From the United Kingdom, we learn the story of the foster child who recognized the sacrifices of his foster parents by giving something in return. Or this story could be viewed as an amazing and moving account of "ordinary people like you."

On the other hand, one might say that 34-year-old Julia Gregg is an immature and irresponsible adult woman who abused her position of trust while violating her marriage vows and soiling the dignity and reputation of her husband. And then there's the possibility that Julia is merely a neglected and thrill-seeking opportunist who opens the vault in return for the slightest of sugar-coated flattery.

A Fleming College student's blog describing a plot for a school shooting similar to the Virginia Tech massacre laid out "a disturbing scenario," said college president Tony Tilly.

The student city police say is responsible for the blog was arrested Saturday and has been suspended by the college.

"The police have reported that (the blog) describes how the individual would plot out an incident at Fleming, and I think that pretty much captures the nature of it," said Tilly, who viewed the blog before it was taken down Saturday night.

"The blog has been removed from the web. We think that's an important step. I don't want to see any communication that makes this kind of linkage to tragic events."

Tilly said the school is conducting its own investigation to decide measures such as whether or not the student can return to Fleming.

"Our investigation will determine what will happen. I'd prefer not to speculate on the results, but at this stage I can say that while the investigation is being carried out the student is suspended."

Students were informed of the arrest by email. In response, correctional worker program student April Parsons remarked, "I was kind of surprised there was something like that at Fleming. You kind of expect stuff like that in the States." Actually, Ms. Parsons, I think more bloggers have been arrested in Iran than the U.S.

Monday, April 23, 2007

National Database of the Mentally Ill

I think this is interesting, but more knee-jerk than a workable proposal.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prompted by the Virginia Tech massacre, a U.S. Congress reluctant to tackle gun control may pass limited legislation to help keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill, lawmakers and aides said on Sunday.

"Given the horror that happened at Virginia Tech, I think there's a real chance of passing this," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, told "Fox News Sunday."

The way Sen. Schumer sees this working is to have mental-health adjudications included in the national instant background check database which prevents firearms purchases. Presumably, the intent is to have all mentally ill people listed.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on one's perspective, it isn't possible. A significant percentage of mentally ill people have never been adjudicated as such. For example, if an individual checks him or herself into a facility or the family of an individual does so, there is no formal adjudication and all records are protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 specifies federal requirements for security and privacy of medical records and health providers take the act very seriously.

Consequently, the only people who would be affected by the proposed legislation would largely be those individuals that had attempted or already committed a criminal offense and their mental health became an issue during legal proceedings.

Of course, if the government redefined "adjudication" to mean when any lower-level bureaucrat signs the proper form, quite possibly a flood of names would be gathered for the database of mentally ill people. After all, that's how Hitler was able to get his Aryan purity project launched.

And, as I understand, this new proposed legislation, had it been law at the time, wouldn't have stopped Cho Seung-Hui from buying guns anyway. Although a judge made a preliminary determination that Cho was nuts, the final "adjudication" came from a doctor working with the court. And the doctor said Cho was fine.

In conclusion, based upon the doctor-patient problems and the dangerous potential of having bureaucrats making mental health determinations, I don't see the proposed legislation becoming law. Even so, I do think there would be some support in Congress, in particular those politicians that drool at the thought of wielding the legislative power to declare somebody mentally ill.

(Isleworth, England) A 36-year-old married mother of two, Karen Wiltshire, has been sentenced to nine months in jail for engaging in sex with a 14-year-old blind boy between April 2001 and April 2002.

Manipulative mum Karen Wiltshire seduced the boy when she was 36 and he was just 14 and had regular sex with him for a year in her own home, often when her husband and children were about.

The boy's mother confronted Wiltshire in 2002 which ended the sexual relationship. For some unknown reason, the boy's mother did not alert the authorities until 2006 when she learned that Wiltshire was working in a school for disabled boys. In August 2006, Wiltshire was arrested.

Judge Sam Katkhuda imposed the nine-month sentence after Wiltshire admitted to indecently assaulting the boy. Katkhuda also ordered Wiltshire banned from working with children ever again.

(UK) According to a study by Doctors For Reform, a health system pressure group, increasing numbers of patients are paying for premium health care to go along with their free care from the National Health Service (NHS). The Doctors For Reform group contends this means that "the health service is no longer free."

At the same time that patients are forced to pay for "free" NHS medical care, a large and increasing number of Brits are opting to travel overseas for medical treatment. People view "medical tourism as a more pleasant option than surgery at home, as well as a chance to escape serious hospital super-bugs, which are becoming more common in the UK."

Whoa! It sure seems that the utopian socialist medical scheme isn't working all that well in the UK.

I'm reminded of the old story about the farmer who offers free oats. People can take all the oats they want for free. Just pick them up. Of course, if someone wants premium oats, those that haven't already passed through the horse, there is a price.

(Tehran, Iran) The results are in for the first day of Iranian dress code enforcement, prosecuting women who do not adhere to strict Islamic rules. Since 10:00 AM Saturday morning, 1,347 women have received warnings and Islamic guidance for tight coats, short trousers or loose headscarves.

Also, according to Mehdi Ahmadi of the Tehran Police, "There were 170 arrests. Of these, 58 were released after making a written commitment and rectifying their appearance. The cases of the rest, who already had a record, were handed over to the judiciary," he said.

And then there's this:

Mohammad Taghi Rahbar, a member of the culture committee of the Iranian parliament, was quoted by the Etemad newspaper as saying a harder line towards female dress was long overdue.

"The current situation is shameful for an Islamic government. A man who sees these models on the streets will pay no attention to his wife at home, destroying the foundation of the family," he warned.

There you have it. Flashy women in tight coats, short trousers and loose headscarves are luring men away from their wives and destroying families. And let's not forget that the Iranian government also tagged women without veils as tools of the enemy.

Police intensified Sunday a Luzon-wide manhunt for a 25-year-old woodcarver from Ifugao who was tagged as the killer of US Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell.

Campbell's decomposing body was retrieved on April 18 by Army soldiers in a shallow grave, her feet protruding from the ground, 10 days after she went missing during a solo hike in Batad to see the Banaue Rice terraces. A bloodstained piece of wood believed used in killing her was found near the grave.

Sources at the Cordillera Administrative Region Police Office identified the suspect in the killing of Campbell as Juan Dontugan, 25, 5'7" in height, fair complexion, medium-built, and described as "strong" as he is a woodcarver.

In the meantime, Campbell's family is planning a memorial service in Fairfax County, Virginia.

(Manila, Philippines) After 10 days of searching, soldiers believe they found the body of U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell, 40, in a shallow grave near the village of Batad about 160 miles north of Manila. Police suspect that she may have been murdered.

According to Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Philippine Army spokesman, "... the smell of the American volunteer worker's protruding foot caught the attention of a K-9 unit of a search and recovery team."

Torres said US embassy officials are already proceeding to the site to identify the body.

He said authorities including Scene of the Crime Office personnel are investigating the cause of Campbell's death. Forensic examination of the body of the American volunteer will be conducted.

Campbell, 40, went missing on April 8 after embarking on a hike to view the famous Banaue Rice Terraces. A former journalist, Campbell, of Fairfax, Virginia, came to the Philippines in 2005 and had been working as a teacher at a college in eastern Legazpi City.

Police earlier said Campbell might have fallen off a cliff. They denied that Campbell was kidnapped by communist guerrillas.

Typically a fall doesn't result in a shallow grave, no matter how mountainous the terrain. Nonetheless, positive identification of the remains awaits confirmation.

(Belleville, Illinois) A 25-year-old East St. Louis woman, Tiffany Hall, was indicted Friday by a St. Clair County grand jury for first-degree murder of three children; DeMond Tunstall, 7; Ivan Tunstall-Collins, 2; and 10-month-old Jinella Tunstall.

Hall had previously been indicted for the September 2006 murder of the children's mother, Jimella Tunstall, and she was also indicted for the intentional homicide of Jimella Tunstall's unborn child.

Hall allegedly beat Tunstall unconscious and then ripped her fetus out of her abdomen using a pair of scissors, leaving Tunstall to bleed to death. Hall dumped Tunstall's body, wrapped in a curtain, in an East St. Louis lot. Afterward, it's alleged that Hall "drugged the children with cough syrup, drowned them in a bathtub and hid their bodies in a washer and dryer." Astonishingly, Jimella Tunstall is reported to have been Hall's best friend.

Hall portrayed the dead fetus as her own and arranged a funeral service which lured her boyfriend home on leave from the U.S. Navy. She confessed her actions to her boyfriend who alerted the authorities.

Hall is currently in custody in the St. Clair County Jail in lieu of $5 million bond.

(Sharjah, United Arab Emirates) A brother and sister have been sentenced by the Sharjah Sharia Court of First Instance to 90 lashes and three months in jail followed by deportation for engaging in incest.

Police said S.M.A., a 22-year-old Pakistani, had a sexual relationship with his sister M.M.A, 20. The brother and sister used to live in Sharjah with their elder brother and their step mother after the death of their father four years ago.

M.M.A. told the court that every night when their stepmother and their elder brother used to go to bed she used to go to S.M.A. room and spend the night with him.

The relationship resulted in a pregnancy and a child was born about six weeks ago. The brother and sister are appealing the verdict.

(Naperville, Illinois) A 26-year-old teacher at Neuqua Valley High School, Akela J. Dillon, has been charged with misdemeanor battery for allegedly slapping a 16-year-old boy in the school corridor. The incident was recorded by a school surveillance camera.

According to the boy's mother, Dillon struck the student, who is black, because he is dating a white girl.

Dillon was placed on administrative leave after the incident. She faces a possible one-year jail term and $2,500 fine if convicted.

[Update 05/03/07]

At a bench trial in Will County, Judge Michael Powers sentenced Dillon to 12 months of court supervision after conviction of misdemeanor battery.

(Henderson, Texas) A 34-year-old elementary school teacher, Melanie Lynn McGuigan, was arrested on Friday the 13th during a traffic stop after almost 15 grams of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. Driving the car and also arrested was 30-year-old Ricky Lee Anderson, an acquaintance.

Both McGuigan and Anderson were booked into the Rusk County Jail and released on bond Sunday morning. Both faces charges of possession of a controlled substance of more than 4 grams, a second-degree felony, punishable by a possible 20 years in the penitentiary.

On Monday, Elysian Fields School District Superintendent, Dr. Bob Browning, stated that McGuigan had submitted her resignation from her teaching position.

(West Monroe, Louisiana) A 20-year-old Texas woman, Adora Sondi Anne Ramirez, was arrested last week by federal agents for allegedly soliciting sex from a 15-year-old girl she met on the Internet. Apparently, Ramirez drove 600 miles from Post, Texas, to West Monroe to meet the girl at a motel.

After a tip from the girl's home, federal agents interrupted the rendezvous right after the two checked into a hotel in West Monroe, Louisiana.

In Ramirez's bag, agents found lubricant, stuffed animals and jewelry, which she said were gifts for the girl.

So, Ramirez drove 600 miles to another state for fun with a girl and, instead, she got arrested. Good.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

A 19-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years in state prison Friday after he was caught last school year with about 40 hits of "cheese" heroin at Thomas Jefferson High School. The 7.3 grams of cheese heroin found on Luis Soto was the largest seizure recorded by Dallas ISD police during the 2005-06 school year, officials said.

A hit of cheese sells for about $2. As many as 17 or more youths have died in the Dallas area over the last two years from cheese heroin overdoses. Authorities are awaiting toxicology results on several other deaths.

Note that authorities found about 100 hits of cheese heroin in a 14-year-old girl's sock at a middle school in January.

(Salt Lake City, Utah) A 30-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala, Rigoberto Salas-Lopez, was arrested after the SUV he was driving crashed and killed eight of 14 illegal alien passengers. On Wednesday of this week, Salas-Lopez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David Nuffer.

The judge appointed a public defense attorney, Viviana Martinez, to Salas-Lopez, who is charged with one count of transporting illegal aliens resulting in death.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Kennedy said the charge is punishable by death or life in prison and a fine of $250,000. Kennedy verified Salas-Lopez is in the country illegally and that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on him.

Salas-Lopez apparently will also be charged with sexually abusing a 22-year-old female at the time of the accident.

(Worcester, Massachusetts) Last January, a 38-year-old English teacher at Frederick Hartnett Middle School, Donna S. Giguere, was charged with repeated sexual assault of a male foster child under the age of 14 who was in her care. The alleged sexual episodes occurred between March 2003 and October 2004 and not on school grounds.

Yesterday in Worcester Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney Cheryl R. Riddle portrayed Giguere as a woman who grooms boys for sex. Defiantly, Giguere shouted "not guilty" to the six child-sex charges filed against her. She was arraigned on two counts of rape of a child, two counts of unnatural rape of a child and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Giguere remains free on $5,000 bail. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 18th.

(Xenia, Ohio) A 34-year-old former juvenile counselor, Anjanette Castonguay, has been sentenced to six months in jail (two six-month terms running concurrently) for engaging in sex with two 17-year-old boys and for providing them with drugs and alcohol.

A six-month sentence was handed down in Xenia Municipal Court and six months was handed down in Greene County Juvenile Court with Clark County Juvenile Court Judge Joseph Monnin presiding.

In June, Castonguay provided two boys beer at an Econo Lodge in Beavercreek and "sexual contact took place, at least initially while others (were) in the room and even in the same bed," according to reports.

On Friday, Monnin found her guilty of contributing to the delinquency of minors and sentenced her to six months in jail, concurrent with the Xenia Municipal Court sentence, as well as 12 months, unless she completes the treatment program.

Agreed, this case is confusing. However, it all boils down to Castonguay serving six months in jail for the crimes of sex with minors and contributing to their delinquency. It's assumed that she will complete the substance abuse program and avoid an additional year in jail.